WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
WIND BANDS
The West Chester University Bands proudly sponsor six different performing ensembles that involve more than 400 students. Opportunities for majors and non-majors are available in all of our concert and athletic bands. Our mission is dedicated to the cultivation and performance of the highest quality music while continuing the proud tradition of excellence that has been the hallmark of the bands at West Chester University.
The West Chester University Bands have been invited to perform at numerous conferences, parades, athletic events and exhibitions. The Bands embrace their role as musical ambassadors in the university and are a vital part of the university and civic artistic communities.
MEET THE FACULTY
Andrew Yozviak
Director of Bands
Hannah Morrison
Associate Director of Bands
Adam Gumble
Director of Athletic Bands
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Summer Wind Conducting Symposium, July 13-17, 2026
The West Chester University Summer Wind Conducting Symposium is designed to provide musicians the opportunity to sharpen conducting skills, strengthen score study techniques, broaden knowledge of wind literature and refine rehearsal strategies. Conductors may participate in the symposium in one of two different levels. Conducting participants will conduct chamber ensembles during the morning sessions and a full wind ensemble in the afternoon. Participation at this level will be limited to the first sixteen applicants with paid deposits. Observers will be engaged in all of the daily activities but will not conduct the ensembles.
Learn more about the Summer Wind Conducting Symposium and this year's guest clinicians.
Philadelphia Wind Band Festival, March 12, 2026
The West Chester University Wind Bands are honored to host the Philadelphia Wind Band Festival as part of Music for All’s Affiliate Regional Music Festival initiative. The Philadelphia Wind Band Festival is modeled after the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. The festival’s non-competitive atmosphere seeks to provide opportunities for musical growth through performance among exceptional peer groups, student masterclasses and workshops, and informative feedback from nationally recognized clinicians. It is our aim to bring the Music For All National Concert Band Festival's student and director experiences to our region.
The Philadelphia Wind Band Festival offers participants:
- 30-minute performance block
- Post-performance clinic with a member of our panel of nationally recognized clinician-educators
- Recorded comments and written evaluations from the adjudication panel
- Conductor’s performance video and written and taped feedback (if interested)
- Student Leadership Clinic with West Chester University faculty
- Exhibition performances by West Chester University ensembles and Liberty Wind Symphony
2026 FESTIVAL CLINICIANS
Dr. Andrea Brown is the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland where she conducts the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, serves as the Director of Athletic Bands, teaches conducting, and is the coordinator of the conducting division. Brown is formerly a member of the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan where she served as the assistant director of bands and was a faculty sponsor of a College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Design Project team researching conducting pedagogy technology. She also served as the director of orchestra and assistant director of bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. She is a frequent guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator in the US, Europe and Asia.
While under her direction, the UMD Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference, and has performed works by a diverse range of composers. Brown and the ensemble have collaborated with soloists Master Gunnery Sgt. Sam Barlow, Willie Clark, Robert DiLutis, Jennifer Piazza-Pick and Amanda Staub. She led a consortium commissioning Omar Thomas's setting of Shenandoah and has participated in commissions for works by Katahj Copley, Shiyung Li, Catherine Likhuta, Li Chan and Harrison Collins.
A proponent of inclusion and equity issues in the music profession, Brown is a frequent guest speaker on these topics. Brown is the founder of "Women Rising to the Podium"- an online group of over 5000 members supporting and celebrating women band directors. She currently serves on the CBDNA Diversity Committee and was a founding member of the Drum Corps International InStep Committee.
Originally from Milan, Tennessee, she is a graduate of Austin Peay State University and earned a master of music degree in horn performance and a master of music education degree with a cognate in instrumental conducting from UNCG. Brown lives just outside of Washington, D.C. in College Park, MD, with her dog, Carter.
Dr. Andrea Brown
Chip De Stefano became Director of Bands at McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Illinois in 1996. Under his direction, the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band has received first division ratings at all district and state organization contests of the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) and has made multiple appearances at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, and NAfME North Central Division Conference. In 2006 and 2013 the Symphonic Band received an invitation to present at concert at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. In the Spring of 2007, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the McCracken Symphonic Band the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup.
As a published arranger and composer, Mr. De Stefano has received commissions from the marching bands of Northwestern University, Samford University, the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, the University of Idaho and dozens of high schools from across the United States. His works have been performed on ABC's 1996 Rose Bowl Halftime Show, Live! with Regis and Kathy Lee, and WBBM News Radio 780. Mr. De Stefano's works are available from FJH Music, LudwigMasters Publications, Grand Mesa Music, Kagarice Brass Editions and eStefanoMusic.com.
Mr. De Stefano is active nationally as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. He's conducted honor bands, festivals and camps in Singapore, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan (scheduled), Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and throughout Illinois. In addition, he has presented conference sessions at the Midwest Clinic, ILMEA All-State Conference, Iowa Bandmasters Conference, Nebraska Music Educators Association State Conference, New England Band Director Instituted, Arkansas Tech University Band Director Workshop, NBA/IGSMA Band Director Workshop, Illinois State University Band Director Workshop and DuPage County Music Clinic. Mr. De Stefano is a recipient of twenty National Band Association Citations of Excellence. He was awarded the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2001, the IGSMA Barbara Buehlmann Young Conductor Award in 2004, the IGSMA Cloyd Meyers Memorial Award in 2011, and the Skokie Award for Artistic Excellence in 2016.
Chip De Stefano
Dr. Isaiah Odajima is Associate Professor of Ensembles and Associate Director of Bands at Baylor University. He conducts the Baylor Symphonic Band, directs the marching band (Golden Wave Band), oversees all the athletic bands. He also instructs courses in instrumental conducting and marching band pedagogy, assists with the graduate wind conducting program, and serves as an advisor in the music education area.
Dr. Odajima returned to the Baylor University faculty in 2009, having served as the Assistant Director of Bands from 2001 to 2003. Prior to his current role, he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Michigan State University. Before his university posts he taught in the Texas public school system at the middle school and high school levels. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from Michigan State University, a Master of Music degree in wind conducting from Baylor University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Dr. Odajima has appeared as clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout the United States. He is a strong supporter of public school music education and community ensemble opportunities beyond the academic realm. His leadership of his ensembles have been nationally recognized with invitations for the Baylor Symphonic Band to perform at two Southwestern Division CBDNA Conferences, and with the Golden Wave Marching Band selected twice for presentation at National CBDNA Conferences.
He has conducted performances at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, College Band Directors National Association Conference, American Bandmasters Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, and served as a conductor at the Interlochen Summer Music Camp.
Dr. Odajima has recently been elected to the American Bandmasters Association, is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.
Dr. Isaiah Odajima
Dr. Damon Talley serves as Director of Bands and Paula G. Manship Professor of Conducting at the Louisiana State University School of Music, where he oversees all aspects of the LSU Department of Bands, conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate conducting. The nationally recognized Band Department at LSU serves as an integral component of the thriving School of Music. Under his leadership, the Department has established an annual conducting symposium, high school and middle school camps that serve hundreds of students annually, and numerous outreach events for public school educators. The Golden Band From Tigerland marching band has been featured at national conferences on multiple occasions, and most recently, the LSU Wind Ensemble performed at the College Band Directors National Association national convention. Dr. Talley is a strong supporter and advocate of music in the public schools. He regularly serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad.
The LSU Wind Ensemble has released multiple recordings on the Equilibrium Label and continues to commission and record new compositions regularly. Dr. Talley has recorded on Best Classical Records and received favorable reviews from publications including Gramophone magazine and the American Record Guide. He has served as producer or associate producer on commercial recordings by the Naxos, Klavier, and Equilibrium record labels, and is published in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, distributed by GIA Publications. Dr. Talley is currently the National Chair for the New Works Committee of CBDNA as well as the Chair for the Commissioning Committee for the SEC Band Directors Association.
Prior to his appointment at LSU, Dr. Talley held the position of Director of Bands at Shenandoah Conservatory, where he was responsible for guiding the wind band program, conducting the EDGE New Music Ensemble, and teaching graduate conducting. He has also taught on the faculties at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan.. His principal conducting teachers are Jerry Junkin, Michael Haithcock, and H. Robert Reynolds. Dr. Talley is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, and holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, the Louisiana Music Educators Association, and the Texas Music Educators Association Educators Association. He is also an Educational Consultant and Clinician for the Conn-Selmer Corporation.
Dr. Damon Talley
And the West Chester University Wind Band Faculty
PERFORMANCE VENUES
High School Ensembles will perform in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre. Middle School Bands will perform in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall. Photos & specifications for each facility can be found online through the WCU Venue Management website.
APPLICATION TO PERFORM
Applications for the 2026 Philadelphia Wind Band Festival are now being accepted. The application and deadline is September 19, 2025. Selected bands will be announced the week of September 29, 2025.
WCU – National Band Association Wind Band Symposium, January 30 and January 31, 2026
The National Band Association and West Chester University will host its annual Wind Band Symposium on January 30 and January 31, 2026. West Chester University's Andrew Yozviak, Hannah Morrison, and Adam Gumble will be joined by guest clinician Julia Baumanis, Assistant Director of Bands at Rutgers University.
Students will work with these clinicians in a full ensemble setting that focusses on refining ensemble skills and in a master classes with Andrew Hitz of Jupiter Band Instruments that focuses on individual musicianship. Additionally, directors will participate in a series of sessions designed to address important themes in conducting, music education, and the administration of high school instrumental ensembles. All sessions will be streamed in cooperation with JW Pepper.
WCU BAND ENSEMBLES
